John Wayne Heard Darryl Zanuck Insult Him...The Duke Literally Made Him Pay For It While Shooting 'The Longest Day'

Shot in the 1960s, The Longest Day is hailed as one of the greatest war films ever made. However, its production faced numerous challenges. Reportedly, there was major tension between Western legend John Wayne and producer Darryl Zanuck, which ultimately led Wayne to take action against Zanuck.

The Longest Day (1962)

Production for The Longest Day began in March 1961, following the acquisition of the book rights. Filmed in the vein of a docu-drama, the movie meticulously identifies each major player on-screen as they prepare for the monumental event of D-Day . The film's expansive narrative offers a detailed and authentic portrayal of the pivotal historical moment.

Tracking the Allies from the lead-up to the landings, through to the beach assaults and engagements at such iconic locations as Pointe du Hoc and Pegasus Bridge , the film showcases the monumental scope of the operation. It evolved into a labor of love for producer Darryl Zanuck, who assembled a stellar cast comprising luminaries like Henry Fonda , Sean Connery , Richard Burton, Kenneth More and the iconic John Wayne.

John Wayne publicly punishes Darryl Zanuck

Unlike his peers, John Wayne made only a short appearance in The Longest Day . Although most of the cast members were paid $25,000 , Wayne refused this offer and chose to receive a hefty $250,000 for his limited role. To everyone’s astonishment, producer Darryl Zanuck accepted Wayne's terms, allowing him to earn ten times more than the film's main stars for his brief stint.

John Wayne never served in the US military

The hefty fee was especially contentious because John Wayne had no military service, unlike some other cast members. This difference did not resonate well with the audience. Although the Western icon received a substantial amount of money, he was ultimately credited at the film's end.

Years later, Wayne remarked , "It was highway robbery. But I needed the money at the time, and that b****** Zanuck had it coming."

An earlier snub

How did this rivalry between Darryl Zanuck and John Wayne start?

The feud between Darryl Zanuck and John Wayne all goes back to Wayne's decision to undertake the dual roles of producer and director for the 1960 film, The Alamo , where he also starred as Davy Crockett. It focused on the 1836 battle of the same name and Wayne was deeply invested in the project, channeling considerable personal funds into it. However, the film failed commercially, failing to recover its costs and marking a significant setback for Wayne.

Darryl Zanuck called out John Wayne specifically

Sometime after The Alamo was released in theaters, Darryl Zanuck participated in an interview, where he mentioned John Wayne. In particular, he commented on how he didn't like when actors decide to make their own production companies.

He didn't leave his comments as vague generalizations - he said "poor old Duke" was one of many who'd done this.

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Having heard Zanuck's comments, Wayne decided that he wanted to make him pay... Literally.